Riots: London to review security for Olympics

London: As riots prompted questions inside and outside Britain about London`s ability to hold the 2012 Olympics, the government said security plans for the mega sporting event will be reviewed.

Home secretary Theresa May insisted that law and order agencies will do all that was necessary to ensure a trouble-free Olympics.

London witnessed considerable violence over the last three days, including in Hackney, which is one of the five boroughs in which the Olympics will be held.

May said security plans for the Olympics will be reviewed.
Thousands of athletes and hundreds of thousands of people from abroad are expected to arrive in London for the mega sport event, putting pressure on security agencies.

May said: "We take the issues around the Olympics very seriously. An awful lot of work has already gone into planning in relation to the security and public order in relation to the Olympics and we will continue to monitor that and continue to look at what is necessary and what we need.”

On its part, the International Olympics Committee (IOC) said it had `complete confidence` in London`s ability to hold the event safely.

An IOC spokesman said security is a top priority but that it was not its direct responsibility.

"That is something for the authorities in London in whom we have complete confidence," he said.

Minister for Sport Hugh Robertson said: "What has happened over the last couple of nights is unforgivable.”
“It is straight forward low level criminality – people trying to steal goods from shops.We have a commitment to deliver safe and secure games and we will do so".

The British Olympic Association (BOA) director of communications Darryl Seibel said that he was confident that the Olympics would pass off safely.

Several sportsmen and cricketers expressed concern over the riots in London, Birmingham, Bristol, Nottingham and Leeds.